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Alert 2007-42 | July 16, 2007
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Chief Executive Officers of All National Banks; All State Banking Authorities; Chairman, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; Chairman, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; Director, Office of Thrift Supervision; Conference of State Bank Supervisors; Deputy Comptrollers (districts); Assistant Deputy Comptrollers; District Counsel; and All Examining Personnel
The above-named bank has reported that counterfeit money orders and official checks issued in the bank's name and using a correct routing number of 104102202 are being presented for payment nationwide in connection with a mystery shopping scam.
Counterfeit items may be identified by the following traits: The money orders are of unknown color with a darkened border along the top of the instrument. The following statement is contained within the top border: "SECURITY WARNING: THE FACE OF THIS DOCUMENT FEATURES A COLORED Background AND MICROPRINT BORDERS. THE REVERSE SIDE FEATURES ARTIFICIAL WATERMARKS."
The checks are also of unknown color and contain the following statement within the top border: "THE FACE OF THIS DOCUMENT HAS A COLORED Background ON WHITE PAPER." The bottom border contains the following statement: "THE BACK OF THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK – HOLD AT AN ANGLE TO VIEW."
On both the money orders and the official checks, the bank's logo appears in the upper- right corner and is followed by "American National Bank, 901 Tenth Avenue, Sidney, NE 69162-0019." The corresponding words of either "Money Order" or "Official Checks" are located in the top-center portion of the check in a normal type font and are not enclosed in a shaded box. The words "Date" and "Amount" are located in the right-center portion of the check within shaded rectangular-shaped boxes. The statement "NOT VALID FOR OVER $1,000:00" appears below the dollar amount on the money order, and the statement "NOT VALID FOR OVER $10,000:00" appears below the dollar amount on the official check. Note the typo of a colon in the dollar amount. The checks contain only one signature line.
Items presented to date contain a 5-digit serial number beginning in the "16" series and are made payable in amounts between $998.77 and $4,990.00. Correspondence accompanying the checks may contain the letterhead of "SurveyLot.com, 5750 East Main Street, Mesa, Arizona 85205, 1-800-771-1261, Fax: 1-866-545-6744."
The letter informs the recipient that he or she has been chosen to represent the company as a secret shopper. A statement explains that SurveyLot.com has been engaged by "Moneygram Money Transfer" to evaluate customer service performance. The enclosed official check or money order is to be used to purchase a Moneygram at a local Wal-Mart store, pay for associated service fees, and to retain a small portion as payment for service. The recipient is instructed to call 800-771-1262 prior to cashing the check. The letter may be signed by Sean Stevenson.
For additional information and guidance and to verify the authenticity of The American National Bank's money orders, please contact Eileen Beeken, Cashier, PO Box 19, Sidney, NE 69162, by telephone at (308) 254-5536, by fax at (308) 254-5547, or via email at [ebeeken@anbsidney.com].
Consumers who receive counterfeit or fictitious items and associated material should file complaints with the following agencies, as appropriate:
Additional information concerning this matter that should be brought to the attention of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) may be forwarded to
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency Special Supervision Division 400 7th St. SW, Suite 3E-218; MS 8E-12 Washington, DC 20219 Phone: (202) 649-6450 Fax: (571) 293-4925 www.occ.gov occalertresponses@occ.treas.gov
For additional information regarding other types of financial fraud, please visit the OCC's anti-fraud resources page.
/signed/
Richard C. Stearns Director for Enforcement & Compliance
